When you think of Batman actors, Val Kilmer might easily escape your mind, due to his lack of popularity as the DC superhero. But now, his last Instagram video is hitting fans right in the feels. Just months before his passing, Kilmer donned his Batman cowl one last time, paying tribute to his character from Batman Forever.
And while it initially appeared as a nostalgic callback to his 1995 role, the video is now feeling like a bittersweet goodbye, following Val Kilmer’s demise on April 1, 2025. Considering how his take on the Caped Crusader didn’t get the love it deserved, fans are now feeling emotional while revisiting his last video.
Val Kilmer donned his Batman cowl for the last time in February 2025
It’s not every day that we see our Batman actors suiting up again. But surprisingly Val Kilmer did it in his last Instagram video from February 2025. Therein, Kilmer shared a clip of himself wearing Batman’s legendary cowl, while reflecting on how it’s been decades since he last donned that piece of outfit.
At first, when the video was posted in February, it seemed like a simple tribute—just a fun nod to his time as Gotham’s protector, from his 1995 movie Batman Forever. But now, after his tragic demise on April 1, 2025, the video suddenly gained a different meaning and a whole new emotional weight.
Fans who may not have given his portrayal of Batman the credit it deserved back in the ‘90s, went back to his video and began watching the clip with heavy hearts and misty eyes. The actor’s post suddenly became a reminder of the appreciation that Val Kilmer deserved as Batman, but never received.
Val Kilmer’s Batman Forever never got the appreciation it deserved
Back in 1995, when Val Kilmer stepped into the role of Gotham’s Caped Crusader with Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever, the actor failed to gain the appreciation he had expected. Thereafter, although the movie became a box office success, it did not sit well with critics and DC fans.
People were apparently disappointed with the tonal shift and campy elements in Batman Forever, which felt like a major departure from Tim Burton and Michael Keaton’s collaboration for the previous films. Fans criticized Val Kilmer’s movie for lacking the dark, gothic atmosphere, unlike its predecessors.
Not to mention, people were still reeling from the performance that Michael Keaton had offered previously. So when Val Kilmer took on the role, people failed to appreciate his performance and criticized it for not being as strong as Keaton’s portrayal. Further, Schumacher and Kilmer’s feud during filming also affected the film’s success.
So eventually, although Batman Forever was a box office success, grossing over $336 million worldwide, fans and critics weren’t exactly happy with it (via The Numbers). However, now, with Kilmer’s passing, people are re-evaluating his Batman, realizing that maybe he deserved a little more appreciation than he got back then.
Batman Forever is available on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
